From Mount Juliet
Day one and it's wet.
Pro-am day saw the crowds start to form around the Kilkenny venue with the ground drying and firming up, but overnight the clouds have opened and it's heavy underfoot.
James Morrison, Justin Walter and Marc Warren got the action underway from the first tee at 7.30 am, while Romain Langasque, Ashun Wu and Thriston Lawrence aimed for the fairway on the tenth.
Fans wearing puffy jackets and carrying umbrellas surrounded the tee box on 10 just outside the media centre window shortly before 8 o clock with the weekend's star attractions loosening out for a 72-hole weekend.
Seamus Power and Shane Lowry are the two key ticket sellers at Mount Juliet. There won't be a hole played at West Waterford or Esker Hills until after Sunday - and depending on the results here, maybe until the middle of next week.
The Course
Yesterday Seamus noted that the layout is going to be challenging with more hazards to contend with than in previous iterations. Weather aside, Mount Juliet is not going to de a doddle. The par-72 will reward precise driving and approach shots will need to be placed close to the pin as exhibited by Lowry who left himself 19 yards to the pin on 12, but missed to card a bogey.
"It definitely looks like there's more rough this year. I think it's going to play a little longer. The fairways are narrow with thick rough so there's going to be a premium on hitting fairways. With the softer greens, you'll definitely be able to get at some pins if you do that, but the fairways are about as narrow as you'll see so it's going to be a good test".
The Quick Update
After seven holes (starting from the back nine) Seamus has placed himself as well as he could have. An opening birdie was a nice tone-setter and he's been consistent in hitting pars since then. A birdie on the 16th has sent him to -2 and a share of ninth place.
Niall Kearney is also 2 under through four.
Meanwhile, Tramore's Mark Power had the same start as his West Waterford colleague. An opening birdie sent him to the second hold with a smile on his face. The son of three-time Irish close champion Eddie Power - Mark is worth an outside bet for the weekend. It wouldn't be the first time an amateur has done it, and of course Shane Lowry pulled off that exact feat in 2009.
It hasn't been a great start for the Offaly man. He bogeyed the 12th to go +1 as he plays with Power.
South African Lawrence Thriston is the early leader on -5 having opened with an eagle.
The full leaderboard can be found here.
More to come later this afternoon....
Continued....
The opening nine holes ended up with Seamus on 3 under. A solid back nine with birdies on the par 4 16th and par 5 17th.
The 18th hole looked likely to be his first dropped shot of the day after a short approach shot leaving 38 yards to the pin. An impressive recovery sent him to four feet for par with the gathered crowds duly applauding the par save.
Making the turn to the front nine would see the good work continue as he made par on the 364-yard hole. The second was another sub-par score to go -4 and into a share of fourth.
Niall Kearney meanwhile is approaching the turn on -5 and tied for the lead.
Tramore's Mark Power has improved to -2, and while he handed back his good work with a bogey on the 14th he managed to recover shortly after with birdie on the 17th, with another on 18.
